Volleyball Preview: Falcons Open Stroh, Close Coach Van De Walle's Career

Complete 2011 Schedule

Bowling Green, Ohio – Coming off of an 8-24 season in 2010, expectations for the Bowling Green volleyball team may not be high to those outside of the program. The Falcons, however, won't let that outlook affect a special season in the program's history.

The 2011 season marks a convergence of eras as head coach Denise Van De Walle has announced that this will be the last of her 29 seasons leading the Bowling Green program. She is the winningest volleyball coach in Mid-American Conference history with more the 500 career victories.

“Being the head coach of Bowling Green volleyball has been so much of my life,” Van De Walle said. “Saying goodbye will be very emotional for me. I absolutely love this team and I want to savor every minute of this final season because it will be over in the blink of an eye.”

On top of that, the Bowling Green volleyball team opens the immaculate Stroh Center in 2011, hosting Michigan State on Sept. 9 to make the first athletic event in the building. A young, but experienced, team will look to make the on-court product in 2011 much better than many anticipate.

“The Stroh Center is awesome,” Van De Walle said. “It's a much-needed resource for volleyball and to be the first athletic event in the Stroh is something really special.”

An improved season will start with a large sophomore class that got plenty of experience as freshmen a year ago. Paige Penrod and Danielle Tonyan became the first freshman duo in school history to each record 300 kills. Libero Ashley Dunn, setter Laura Avila, and outside hitter Lindsay Butterfield were all regular contributors in their first seasons. Two more sophomores, Libby Dachenhaus and Kaitlynn Skinner, have made big strides since the end of the 2010 campaign and could help out as well.

That sophomore class is joined by a pair of seniors, Emily Kauth and Madison Nitta, who will lead the team and look to close out their careers with a successful season. Juniors Kari Galen, Lauren Mizgalski, and Cassie Berning provide a lot of firepower and defense at the net. Two newcomers, junior college transfer Leah Shaw and versatile freshman setter Erica Fullenkamp, have potential to produce right away as well.

SETTER
Sophomore Laura Avila returns after starting 17 times a year ago and playing in all 111 sets. She took over a starting role midway through the year and, along with her setting, was able to finish third on the team with 198 digs. Freshman Erica Fullenkamp comes to Bowling Green as the first high school commit in school history to record 1,000 assists and 1,000 kills during her prep career. She was a two-time first team All-Ohio award winner and has the versatility to contribute immediately.

“Both of our setters are playing really well right now,” Van De Walle said. “Laura is the type of player coaches want on the floor as she is a natural born leader and her defense and hustle are outstanding. Erica is a gifted athlete who has good size and is good in the air. She does a great job saving tight passes.”

MIDDLE HITTER
Four players will battle to contribute in the middle with senior Emily Kauth, junior Kari Galen, junior college transfer Leah Shaw, and sophomore Kaitlynn Skinner. As a senior, Kauth will carry a big load and Galen comes off of a much-improved sophomore season in which she started 24 times and averaged a team-best 0.78 blocks per set.

“Emily is playing her best volleyball this preseason,” Van De Walle said. “She is hitting the ball extremely well and we're counting on her to score more points this year. Kari's speed in the middle will certainly help us blocking-wise and she has really gained a lot of confidence during the spring and summer.”

Skinner played in just four matches last year but had a strong spring and is a natural blocker. Shaw has good size and has two years of collegiate experience, which is something this team lacks with such a large sophomore class.

“Kaitlynn's hitting right now is as good as I've seen,” Van De Walle said. “She will compete for a spot in the middle. Leah is a gifted athlete who should help us at both the left and middle. I'm looking forward to seeing her compete for a starting spot.”

LEFT SIDE
The left side may be the strength of this team with sophomores Paige Penrod and Lindsay Butterfield, along with junior Cassie Berning and Shaw. Penrod was the only player to start all 32 matches a year ago and she ranked fourth in the Mid-American Conference with 405 kills, easily the most by a freshman in program history. Butterfield developed as the season wore on and had at least ten kills in five of the final 12 matches a year ago. Berning is a player who has battled injuries throughout her career but has potential, while Shaw will find time at this position when she is not in the middle.

“Paige carried a big load for us last year and I don't see that changing,” Van De Walle said. “She is a strong, dynamic left side who can take over a match. Lindsay just keeps getting better and better. She's hitting the ball harder than last year and she's one of those players who gives it all she has every time she plays. Cassie adds another dimension for us at left side because she is a six-rotation player, but we haven't gotten a chance yet to see what she can do.”

RIGHT SIDE
Sophomore Danielle Tonyan and redshirt junior Lauren Mizgalski are strong, physical right side hitters. Tonyan was just the fifth freshman in program history to finish with at least 300 kills, started 27 times, and had at least ten kills in 17 different matches. Mizgalski is another player who has been hampered by injuries during her career but has shown potential when she has been able to get on the court.

“Danielle is one of the hardest hitters I have ever coached,” Van De Walle said. “We're continuing to work on her shot selection but she is fun to watch and we expect big things from her. Lauren made great strides last spring at the net. She has always been a pretty good blocker but now her hitting has caught up. She is playing with more confidence and she wants to be on the floor.”

DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST/LIBERO
Senior Madison Nitta and sophomores Ashley Dunn and Libby Dachenhaus will handle the libero and defensive specialist duties. Nitta has found more court time as her career has progressed and is one of the better servers on the team. She had the opportunity to play with the US Deaf team during the summer and contributed to a squad that won the 2011 Friendship Games, defeating a Ukraine team that had not lost an international match in six years. Dunn is the incumbent starter at libero and her 457 digs were the eighth-best single season total in program history. Dachenhaus was slowed last year by the recovery of a torn ACL.

“We need Ashley to do big things for us in the back row,” Van De Walle said. “Her ball control will be very important to our offensive efforts. Madison is playing the best volleyball of her career right now. Her play with the US Deaf team this summer is very apparent. She is playing like a senior. This spring we used Libby as a setter and she was quite impressive. She's a very hard worker and will compete for a spot in the back row.”

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